Nigeria Deploys Soldiers To Gambia As Jammeh’s Deadline Expires Today

[caption id="attachment_15710" align="alignnone" width="699"]President Yahya Jammeh[/caption]

The Nigerian government has deployed no fewer than 200 soldiers and fighter jets to join their Senegalese counterparts for a Gambian mission.

This was revealed by the spokesperson of the Nigerian Air Force, Ayodele Famuyiwa, in a statement made available to newsmen.

Recall that the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, had ordered President Yahya Jammeh to vacate office today, Thursday, January 19, or face dire consequences.

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The ECOWAS indicated that his refusal to handover to President-elect Adama Barrow, will lead to his forceful removal.

However, Jammeh instead of vacating office, announced a state of emergency on Tuesday, saying it was necessary because of interference from foreign powers in the country’s December 1 election.

He said he would not leave office until the Supreme Court hears his petition challenging Barrow’s victory.

The statement on the deployment of soldiers read in full, “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has deployed to Senegal as part of Nigerian contingent of Economic Community of West African States Military Intervention in Gambia (ECOMIG) – a standby force tasked by ECOWAS Heads of State to enforce the December 1, 2016 election mandate in the The Gambia.

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“The NAF today moved a contingent of 200 men and air assets comprising fighter jets, transport aircraft, Light Utility Helicopter as well as Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance aircraft to Dakar from where it is expected to operate into Gambia. The deployment is also to forestall hostilities or breakdown of law and order that may result from the current political impasse in The Gambia.

“Addressing the contingent before departure, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar urged the troops to maintain discipline and be professional in their conduct. Reminding them to be good ambassadors of Nigeria, the CAS stated that no act of indiscipline by the contingent would be tolerated. The contingent, led by Air Cdre Tajudeen Yusuf, was airlifted this morning from 117 Air Combat Training Group Kainji. Other troop contributing countries include Senegal, Ghana and countries within the sub-region.

“You are please requested to disseminate the information through your medium for the awareness of the general public. Thank you for your usual support and cooperation.”

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